Live in Both

For some reason this weekend, I was thinking about these scriptures. At first glance they seem to contradict each other.

Be like a child . . .
“and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4)

Grow up . . .
“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14)

One is saying be like a child, while the other is saying grow up so we are no longer children??? The beauty of God’s word is that these are both true and incredibly consistent with the Greatest Commandment . . .

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

The LORD wants us to trust Him, have faith, like a child. Be easily willing to submit and follow the Father. Love Him with all of our HEART. However, he wants us to be wise and discerning so as to not be easily misled. Love Him with all of our MIND. To be deeply rooted, and yet deeply humbled. To worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Be like a child . . . love deeply, in humility, in willing submission AND grow up in our thinking, be wise and discerning, to stand strong against schemes of the enemy.

What a beautiful balance and tension to live in!

Live in both . . .